Power, Policy Prime In Senate's Shuffle

November 6, 1986|By Chris Reidy of The Sentinel Staff

The retaking of the U.S. Senate by Democrats, ending six years of Republican control, could have far-reaching implications for Florida.

The Democrats' 55-to-45 majority is expected to elevate eight southerners to important committee chairmanships. One is Sen. Lawton Chiles, D-Fla., who is in line to assume control of the Budget Committee.

What's more, the Democrats' success in the South -- they picked up new seats in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Louisiana -- may improve the chances of a southerner winning the party's presidential nomination in 1988.

On the other hand, the defeat of Sen. Paula Hawkins by Democratic Gov. Bob Graham means Florida no longer has a statewide Republican in Washington advancing local interests at the White House.

The Democratic victory also will affect national policy decisions.

While some new senators are similar to their predecessors in outlook and ideology, six are expected to be more centrist and moderate than the senators they replace. Six of the 15 Republicans elected in the 1980 Reagan landslide lost Tuesday.

There were many close votes in the last Congress, and the new senators could make a difference on such vital issues to Florida as trade policy, contra aid in Nicaragua and defense spending.

Trade legislation could be especially important. Democrats tried to make an election issue of trade but were thwarted by the Republican leadership's control of the Senate agenda.

''We'll be putting forward a growth agenda,'' Chiles said.

A side-effect of the election is that Republican champions of the space program may be replaced on key committees by Democrats more inclined to be critical of NASA.

Not all of Tuesday's winners and losers were on the ballot. The defeat of so many Republicans after President Reagan's vigorous campaigning may promote talk of lame-duck status.

Chiles, of course, is one of the victors. After years of being a ''spear carrier,'' in his words, he will be a chief. His chairmanship will give him more influence in shaping budget policy and in pursuing his personal agenda. That includes providing more money for education and scientific research and development. Chiles' prominence may help his efforts to curb bureaucratic abuse and to adopt new accounting systems for buying military hardware.

As for fiscal policy, the change in chairmen is unlikely to produce dramatic shifts. Chiles has worked closely with Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., the outgoing chairman, and the colleagues share views on government spending and the deficit.

The cooperative spirit between chairman and ranking minority member exists on several other committees.

If Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., takes charge of the Armed Services Committee, there should be no dramatic shifts in policy from that developed under retired Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz.

In the same vein, no radical changes would be expected from an Appropriations Committee chaired by Sen. John Stennis, D-Miss., who is more likely to support Reagan than his predecessor, Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore.

Nor is Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, expected to lead the Finance Committee far from positions taken by Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore. Graham has expressed interest in serving on the Finance Committee, and Chiles is in a position to give a major assist to his junior colleague.

However, there could be a world of difference on the Judiciary and the Labor and Human Resource committees, where liberals are in line to replace conservatives.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., can choose between those two committees, which had been chaired by Sens. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., and Orrin Hatch, R- Utah. Depending on Kennedy's decision, liberal Sens. Joseph Biden Jr., D- Del., or Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, may take over those chairmanships.

To a lesser degree, the Foreign Relations Committee could deviate from its present line. Sen. Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., a liberal, is expected to take control from the more moderate Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.

NASA may need a friend in Chiles if the Commerce Committee is chaired by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C. Other NASA critics are in line to succeed defeated Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., as chairman of the Commerce space subcommittee.

When Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo., chaired Commerce and Gorton chaired the space subcommittee, they often frustrated the attempts of Hollings, Riegle and Gore to investigate the Challenger accident.

Citing the number of hearings scheduled and witnesses called, a Riegle aide characterized Danforth and Gorton as ''do-nothing'' chairmen. The aide said the committee would assume a more aggressive and critical role under Democratic leadership.

The other panel that supervises NASA is an appropriations subcommittee that had been chaired by Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, whose enthusiasm for the space program prompted him to take a shuttle ride.